Potholes

How to report a pothole

In this section:

Report a pothole

You can report a pothole using our online form.

Report a pothole

How long will it take to repair a pothole I have reported?

To help us prioritise repairs that are most hazardous, reports are recorded and risk assessed to form a maintenance plan.

Repairs are categorised by urgency, with completion targets of:

  • 7 days
  • 28 days
  • 90 days 

Our emergency team aim to repair the most dangerous potholes within two hours.

What are our steps for repairing potholes?

Where possible, we will carry out a permanent patch repair. This will be either on our:

  • first visit
  • during a scheduled return visit

While this may mean that some potholes take longer to repair, it allows us to deliver a higher quality and longer lasting repair. 

This is because extra time is needed to plan the work, arrange repair teams, and get the necessary legal permits to complete full cut out repairs.

Temporary repairs

A temporary repair may be carried out if there is an immediate risk to people or property. This ensures the highway remains safe. 

We will usually return to complete a permanent repair, although in some instances the defect may be scheduled as part of a larger programme of works at a later date.

Why haven't you repaired a pothole I've reported?

While we inspect all requests, we use a risk-based approach to decide if a pothole requires repair. 

This assessment typically considers:

  • location and usage - for example, whether the defect is on a high-traffic route, a high-speed road, or an area with heavy pedestrian or cyclist activity
  • traffic volume and type - including the presence of vulnerable road users
  • likelihood of harm - how probable it is that the defect will cause damage or injury
  • potential severity of harm - the expected impact if an incident were to occur
  • rate of deterioration - whether the defect is stable or likely to worsen quickly
  • environmental or weather factors - such as freeze thaw cycles that may speed up damage

If the risk is low, we may decide that the pothole does not require immediate repair and can instead be monitored or scheduled for future maintenance. 

If a repair is required, the factors above will influence how we prioritise these works.